Flags fly for the Armed Forces

Hundreds of communities around the country raised flags today to commemorate the first British Armed Forces Day.

The Armed Forces Day takes place on 27 June, but the flag-raising ceremony was timed to synchronise with a similar ceremony taking place in 425 councils throughout the country today.  The flags will be flown until the day itself.

Pictured is the Mayor of Christchurch, Cllr David Flagg, raising a flag from the Mayor’s Parlour.

He said: “I’m delighted to have been asked to join other local authorities across the United Kingdom in simultaneously raising this specially commissioned Armed Forced Day flag in a universal show of support of our Armed Forces past, present and future.

“It’s particularly appropriate here, coming the day after the Veterans’ Day in Burton. Members of our Armed Forces have always played an important and vital contribution to the safety of our country and we should do everything we can to make sure this is never forgotten. British Armed Forces Day is a very welcome new way of celebrating this contribution.”